Michael Buffington, 68, Grove, Okla., died Dec. 31, 2009, from complications from cancer. He retired as Tessenderlo Kerley Inc.’s vice president-export marketing in 2007, having joined the company in 1983 as a marketing representative.
After serving four years in the U.S. Air Force and receiving a B.S. in Agronomy from Kansas State University, he spent his entire career in the agriculture industry, working as a salesman, agronomist, and executive.
Buffington is survived by his wife Susan, their five children, and nine grandchildren. Memorials may be made to either the Good Shepherd Hospice of Grove, Okla., or the American Cancer Society. Donations for these may be sent to Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.
Bunge Ltd. on Jan. 7 announced the appointment of Pedro Parente to the newly created position of president and CEO, Bunge Brazil, effective Jan. 11, 2010. Parente will lead all of Bunge’s businesses in Brazil, and will report to Alberto Weisser, Bunge chairman and CEO.
Until December 2009, Parente served as chief operating officer of Grupo RBS (RBS), a leading Brazilian multimedia company. He was responsible for managing all operations of the company, which owns 18 TV stations, eight newspapers, and 25 radio stations. Prior to joining RBS, he held a variety of high-level posts in the public sector. Parente served as chief of staff, minister of planning, and deputy minister of finance during the administration of Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. He also served as a consultant to the International Monetary Fund and has worked at the Brazilian Central Bank and Banco do Brasil. He is a former chairman of the board of Petrobras and Banco do Brasil. Parente holds a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Brasília, and is a fellow at the George Washington University Center of Latin American Studies.
Mario Barbosa will continue to manage Bunge’s fertilizer operations in Brazil, and Sergio Waldrich will continue to manage its agribusiness, food products, and sugar and bioenergy operations. Both will report to Parente.
“We look forward to integrating further Bunge’s Brazilian businesses, so they can produce the best services for our domestic and international customers with the greatest efficiency,” said Weisser. “Market conditions demand this. In addition to their management responsibilities, Mario and Sergio will work closely with Pedro to create the optimal linkages among Bunge Fertilizantes, Bunge Alimentos and our growing sugar and bioenergy business.”